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You may not know it but, Indiana Dunes National Park is a mecca for hikers and if you’ve hiked this national park before, you know you can do some hardcore hoofing in the park. But not every one of the park’s 50 miles of trail are steep, curved and rugged. Some are just right for a leisurely stroll with plenty of stops along the way to enjoy the park’s incredible biodiversity. (Fun Fact – Indiana Dunes National Park is the 5th most biodiverse National Park in the United States!)
In this blog, we will introduce you to some seriously picturesque trails that are all easy or moderate, under 3 miles and appropriate for all skill and endurance levels. These trails are all ideal for hiking with small children too. On our visit to this national park, we hiked with our toddler, so we intentionally stuck to shorter, less strenuous trails.
While most of the trails we feature in this post may be rated “easy”, these trails are not fully paved. Some have short, paved portions, boardwalks or stairs but that’s about it for manmade structures. This is, after all, dune country. Click on the links in this post and they will take you to Indiana Dunes National Park webpages, where you can view trail maps for each hike featured in this blog.
Before setting out to hike any of the trails within Indiana Dunes National Park, be sure to check any alerts in effect on the Indiana Dunes National Park Website.
West Beach Trail
Distance: 1.1 miles
Difficulty: Easy
The West Beach Trail is part of an interconnected, 3 loop hike. It is about 1.1-miles long and is easy from start to finish. You will commonly see this trail referred to on maps and other signage as “Loop 2”. Some of our favorite views in the entire national park were enjoyed on the West Beach Trail. We were delighted by the unexpected views of Long Lake and surprised to see prickly pear cactuses lining this trail. We also saw a large beaver hut on the lake and got to enjoy several species of birds out on the water. This trail leads you through a section of the park that used to be sand mined in the 1920s – although you wouldn’t know that now thanks to the park’s restoration efforts. The trail is sandy, but the sand was packed quite well and felt sturdy beneath our feet; however, we were told by a ranger that most of the time the sand is loose on this trail (FYI). There is a parking lot along the trail by Long Lake. You’ll also find a viewing deck accessible via the parking lot. If you don’t want to hike West Beach Trail or don’t have time to, we suggest you stop at this parking lot and at least check out the viewing deck to enjoy a very different landscape within the park.
Dune Succession Trail
Distance: 1-mile round trip
Difficulty: Moderate
The Dune Succession Trail was our favorite hike within the national park. Like the West Beach Trail, the Dune Succession Trail is part of the 3-loop interconnected trail with its trailhead accessible via the West Beach parking lot. You will also find public restrooms in the parking lot near the trailhead. The Dune Succession Trail is a 1-mile-long trail that leads you up a wooden staircase into a dune landscape, which is the namesake of this national park. When you enter the dunes after a 270-stair climb, you’ll get to enjoy diverse bird and plant species beneath a shaded tree canopy.
As you leave the trees and re-enter the dunes, you will pass through a pretty pinery of Jake pine trees. Jack pine trees are typically found further north. According to the National Park Service, “these are some of the most southern Jack pines in the world and are a result of Lake Michigan and the work of glaciers transporting seeds.” The last part of the trail (or the first part if you decide to do this trail in reverse) leaves you trekking along the shores of Lake Michigan at the parks most popular beach called “West Beach.” At the beach you will notice smoke stakes visible from the shoreline. These smokestacks belong to a large steel manufacturing plant located at nearby Burns Harbor, Indiana. The fact that so much beauty exists on the Dune Succession Trail is incredible – especially when you see smokestacks and keep in mind that this part of Indiana Dunes National Park exists in the middle of pollution and urbanization.
Mount Baldy Beach Access Trail
Distance: 0.75 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Hauntingly wild and beautiful dune views are what you can expect on the Mount Baldy Beach Access Trail. Mount Baldy Beach sits at the base of the largest living dune field in the park and offers visitors magnificent views of Mount Baldy – the tallest dune at this national park. From the Mount Baldy Beach Access parking lot, you can pick up the trail to the beach. The trail is about 0.36-miles long or 0.75-miles round trip. It’s a moderate trail mostly because it has a large section of loose sand which can be destabilizing at times – mostly when you are hiking down to the beach. We spent less than an hour here and we highly recommend this hike for the impressive dune and Lake Michigan views it provides. We hiked here later in the day and were treated to views of the gigantic dunes cloaked in misty swirls. It made for an eerie yet mesmerizing image of the park’s iconic dune landscape.
Did you know it’s cooler by Lake Michigan? That goes for all five Great Lakes, in fact. When heading by the lakeshore be sure to hike in layers. We had a small, packable blanket with us that we used to help shield our daughter from the wind that picked up as we got closer to the shoreline and I slipped into a lightweight windbreaker. Our layers allowed us to enjoy the Mount Baldy Beach Access Trail more comfortably and for longer too.
Heron Rookery Trail
Distance: 3 miles, out and back
Difficulty: Easy
This easy, soft-earth trail runs along runs along the east arm portion of the 63-mile long Little Calumet River which starts from a tiny stream. The area this trail leads you though supports more than 100 flowering plants and ferns which ranks it as one of the biologically most diverse places in the United States. Some plant life you might see on this hike include Swamp Thistle, Marsh Marigold, Blue Flag Iris, Spotted Coral Root, Beech Drop and more. Blooms depend on the time of year you visit with the most impressive spread of wildflowers expected in the spring months. This trail was very buggy when we hiked it (May 2025). We highly recommend you come prepared for mosquitoes on your visit. A mosquito head net and mosquito repellent are great gear options to bring along. We hiked with NATPAT tick repellent stickers on our t–shirts and hiking packs. These stickers are an effective and safe option for kids and available internationally. Save 10% off NATPAT products today by using our special referral link to order online!
Great Marsh Trail
Distance: 1.3 miles
Difficulty: Easy with no elevation change
Within Indiana Dunes National Park vast stretches of marsh lay inland from Lake Michigan. You can hike through one on this easy, 1.3-mile trail that is a hotspot for birding. If you start the hike from the accessible trail and parking lot, about 0.2 miles into the hike you will find the observation deck which offers spectacular views of this restored marsh and wading birds like herons, egrets and sandhill cranes. This trail runs through “the largest interdunal wetlands in the Lake Michigan watershed” (Indiana Dunes) and the wetland is said to have more plants and animals than any other habitat within the park.
Trail Etiquette Reminders
Whether you are a true hiking first-timer or a very experienced hiker, these trail etiquette reminders are always worth keeping in mind every time you lace up your boots and head out for a trek:
- Stay on the trail and please tread lightly. Do not step off it unless you are yielding or taking a break. Staying on the trail helps to protect the plant and animal species as well as the park’s entire ecosystem. The dunes are a particularly fragile ecosystem. Plus – staying on the trail helps protect YOU from ticks which are common in the Midwest and may be found in this national park year-round.
- Let nature lie – please do not touch plants or animals you come across while out on the trail. Be sure to leave rocks, vegetation and other artifacts alone. Do not take these with you.
- Garbage in, garbage out. This goes for dog poop too!
- The standard right-of-way when hiking is that hikers coming uphill have the right-of-way, so if you are on the descent, please step aside and allow those ascending the right-of-way.
- When you approach another hiker from behind, announce yourself in a friendly and calm voice and let them know if you want to pass them.
- If hiking in a group, do not take up the entire width of the trail
Final Thoughts
Indiana Dunes National Park is home to some of the best hiking spots in the Midwest and it makes you forget you’re in Indiana. It has a nice variety of tails for hikers of any experience level, especially for beginners looking for more leisurely, scenic hikes through varied ecosystems. We hiked each of the easy to moderate trails spotlighted in this post in two days. We also did so with our toddler who joined us via a cushy hiking backpack.
Let us know in the comments if you have any questions or if you’ve ever hiked at Indiana Dunes or want to!
If you’re interested in learning more about this national park, be sure to check out our Guide to Indiana Dunes National Park: Natural Wonders post.
– Alyssa + Justin + Our little hiker in training
Parks and Planes is an informative resource for readers. Due to unforeseen conditions like National Park closures, policies, construction and other natural changes to the park and its trail, Parks and Planes, LLC does not assume liability for the accuracy of posts, trail conditions and directions. Parks and Planes strives to accurately describe and document details as experienced during the date and time of the visit. Please travel safely when hiking here and visiting recommended sites and places mentioned in this blog post. All photos, opinions and content are our own.
